Lots of Questions!

Yesterday we didn't have a lot of time to spend with Any after all of the meetings, but we were able to get a tour of her room and common area that she shares with the 9 girls in her group. We went to a little restaurant along the beach (it's a very different kind of beach - not one you'd swim in, but very pretty). Anya then wanted us to see the park in her town (Zelenagorsk is how you say it, I think). The park is very beautiful and has a small amusement park in it that she thinks will be open on Sunday, so we will try to go there then. We walked out to the beach and there were remains of some sand castles she and her friends had built a few days before. They had some time periods confused because there were "bus stops" for the "kings" and "viking forts" and tulips, but it was fun to look at everything. Also, she was very proud that she can do a hand stand! She told us that her group of girls has a bicycle and now that she knows how to ride (she learned at our house over Christmas) she is able to have a turn (they each ride 3 times around the building and then switch off). We didn't have too much time to talk about things with her yesterday and she didn't really have any questions. We gave her some presents (new jeans, new shirt, dominoes, and 2 necklace making kits for her to share - those were a hit!). She said that when we sent her beads for her birthday the orphanage used her box of beads to teach a beading class to everyone. We took Anya back to the orphanage and she asked when we would be there today. We told her about 10:30. We also met one of her care givers. Today we met her other care giver and she was very talkative... only had wonderful things to say about Anya and how well she does in school and what a wonderful girl she is. She wanted to know if we liked the town and what it was like where we lived. We really enjoyed meeting her. This morning we left the apartment at 9:00am and had a new driver and new translator. We found out our translator is not usually a translator, but is a school teacher at an International Christian school here who took the day off work today to translate for us. She is friends with the our adoption coordinator here. It was interesting to get to know "Katya" today. I believe she is a born again Christian and we had a lot of great conversation in the van on the way to the orphanage and on the way home tonight. He mother actually grew up in an orphanage in St. Petersburg so her heart really goes out to these children. She has several friends in the US who have adopted and it was neat to hear their stories!
Anyway, we headed to the orphanage and stopped by the grocery store to buy some food for lunch (it is much cheaper that way). While there, Irena (the coordinator) met us at the grocery store to give us a copy of Anya's birth certificate in English and told us that Anya had to have at least one hot meal per day, so sandwiches would be fine for lunch, but to take her out for dinner (they don't usually have sandwiches it seams). We went on to the orphanage and Anya was ready to go. We went to the beach again and played Frisbee and with a ball. She had a game for us to play called Doctor, which was interesting. After we all froze on the beach, we went closer to St. Petersburg to a bowling alley. Anya had never been bowling and it was a lot of fun. You'll have to see the pictures and video to fully appreciate it. We bowled for an hour and then went to the car for a pic-nic. We bought Anya's favorite things for her (jam and bread, yogurt drink, bananas, & cheese). We then went back into the "mall" and played video games. This too can only be seen on video - we were all laughing hysterically! She was so intense and so hilarious at the same time. After video games, Anya wanted to go shopping and find gifts for her 2 care givers. With the gifts purchased, we went to the food court to find Anya's "hot meal". She ordered soup and "bleana" (which is like a pancake with fruit inside w/ powder sugar & sour cream). It was only a few bites into the first bowl of soup that she spilled it all in her lap. After we cleaned that up, we got another bowl of soup and finally she ate the bleana. In spite of her soaked pants, she was pretty content and wanted to sit at the tables and play dominoes. At this point, she started bringing up questions about the adoption. She told us that she didn't really know why they asked her all the questions yesterday and did not know that we were really going to adopt her. She found out this morning from the social worker. So, she wanted to know: When would we be back to get her? Could her middle name be Helen? (we're still thinking on that one) If she decided to come back in 2 years, could she? Can we also adopt Nastya? (Nastya is her handicapped roommate whom she loves very much - that is the hardest question to answer) Can we come back to visit? Could her friends come to America to visit her? What would she study? Who would be able to teach her Russian? Why will she have to wait so long for us to come and get her? Why didn't Faith come with us? What is the Russian translation of Higgins? How will we find her when we come back? (she will be at summer camp)I think she really had a lot on her mind today when she realized we were actually planning to bring her home with us forever. She seemed very decided about being adopted, but very anxious over all of the variables. She asked our interpreter if she would like living in America. The interpreter told her about a family she knows who adopted a child from St. Petersburg when he was 12. He is now 20 and has had a lot of wonderful opportunities he would not have had here. I explained that usually people like living where their family lives and Anya is a part of our family now and she will really enjoy living with America since we are there. God was really working when He allowed us to have Katya as our translator today. She has known several families from the states who have adopted and she knows a lot of children from other countries (from her school) and she is a Christian. So, she was a very big help in explaining things to Anya and we felt very comfortable talking with her about everything and trusted her when she told Anya things from her experience. I think Anya will have more questions tomorrow, but I pray that God will give her peace about everything. I know it must be very scary to leave everything you know and everything in your comfort zone to go to a new country with a different language and trust that the family will not ever leave you. She has no hesitation about leaving her 2 living parents and her living grandmother, but she is worried about leaving Nastya. I have not told her that we hope to have Nastya come visit at Christmas at my parents house, but I really am hoping that will work out. I think it would be perfect timing and would be great for both of them! After the questions, we went in search of "Russian Ice Cream". We bought some and ate it on the way to the van. We dropped Anya off at the orphanage and were able to go up to her room for a few minutes and speak to everyone. We will see her in the morning at 10:00am. I think we will go to the aquarium (she hasn't ever been and it will be indoors). After that, she is going to help us find a gift to take back to Faith.
I think Jack has some pictures loaded here at the cafe, so I will try to post some.
Keep praying for us! It is going to be very difficult to leave Anya at the orphanage on Sunday and I know it will be an even longer wait for her. We will probably not sleep at all on Sunday - our driver will be at the apartment at 3:00am Monday morning to take us to the airport.
Love you all!
Jack & Stephanie